“ Pace, Power and Patience = Performance”
Following a 3 week break due to a walk over conceded by Westbury On Severn for failing to fulfil our last scheduled fixture, Cheltenham Civil Service got back on the league campaign with an excellent performance from the whole squad.
From the first whistle Service played with pace and power that the visitors struggled to cope with.
The home sides forwards dominated the set piece, especially in the scrum where debutant Scott Munden had a great game at tight head which resulted in the visiting pack going backwards on their own ball numerous times. Credit though Old Crypts, although struggling the whole afternoon at scrummage time, they managed ‘somehow’ to maintain possession, although back foot ball, on their own put in. Service’s impressive back row were able to put their opponents half backs under so much pressure forcing errors and gaining turnover ball, that the home sides hard running and off loading skills were quickly capitalised on.
After 6 mins the visitors were forced to clear their lines with a down field kick, that went straight to Services full back Joey Jones who showed electric pace and stepping that opened gaps in the defence scoring a great try under the posts. Converted by Will Markey.
A similar score was added 12mins later with the defence again struggling to cope with the pace from full back Jones who scored again, this time leaving Markey a more difficult kick from wider out that the Outside Half duly slotted.
Service were dominant. The defensive line speed from the Home side was really pleasing putting pressure on the visitors throughout. First up tackling was impressive and the speed in which the defensive line was reset didn’t allow Old Crypts to get over the ‘Gain Line’. Open Side Max Wilder, definitely his best performance in a CCSRFC Shirt, got to know intimately the visitors half backs so much so I think they will be having nightmares about the home sides No.7 for nights to come.
Service kept to the game plan, building pressure and playing with pace that created quick ball. They were powerful in contact and as a result produced a performance that pleased not only the Coaches but the watching crowd. Those of you that weren’t there you missed a quality Performance from the home side.The Pressure told and further tries were scored following some great lines of running punching into the brave Crypts defence that just couldn’t cope with the precision shown by the home side.
Impressive number 8 Ollie Wilton was put through a defensive gap by Will Markey to score under the posts, converted by Markey.Hard running centre Jack Gascoyne, caused the visitors problems all game and made metres with every carry and after 33 mins added to the score with a score under the posts, following a well executed training field ‘line out’ move just inside the 22 that saw Service create gaps in the defence. The try again converted by Markey who wasn’t to be fair, being tested with his place kicks!
One further try by Ollie Wilton just before half time again converted saw CCSRFC go in to half time with the try bonus point in the bag.
Half Time Score 35 – 0
The second half challenge was to replicate the Performance of the first half and keep disciplined to keep to the game plan and not go off script. Build Pressure play with Pace and Power.Credit to Old Crypts, with nothing to lose, they came out fighting in the second half.
Service weathered the pressure applied and again imposed their game plan on the visitors who were being tested by the precision and pace of the home sides attack. Three further tries followed, two more for Gascoyne who was proving too powerful for the defence and a third for No 8 Wilton who the defence appeared to not want to get near him whilst in full flight.
The bench was emptied by the home side, and a 1st XV debut given to Lewis Jones. In the final stages of the game Service lost their Skipper Ross Ruck, who had again led from the front, to an unfortunate accidental head injury, that will see him side lined for a while whilst concussion protocols are followed.
Old Crypts in the final stages tested the, discipline and defensive intensity of the home side. The commitment, organisation, line speed and desire to get into shape that was evident all game remained from the home side who were determined to prevent their try line being crossed. Nothing demonstrated this more than the team celebration following a maul turnover success 5 metres out in the final minutes of the game, even though by that stage the game was clearly won.
With seconds left MOTM Joey Jones deservedly got his Hat-Trick try in the corner, following another example of slick passing with pace that stretched the defence to breaking point. A try that he converted himself to give Service a deserved 63 – 0 victory.